Steve Bechler facts for kids

Steven Scott Bechler (born November 18, 1979 – died February 17, 2003) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles.

Steve was a talented player who started his career in the minor leagues. He made it to the big leagues in 2002. Sadly, he passed away during spring training in 2003. His death was caused by heat stroke. Doctors found that a certain dietary supplement he was taking played a part in his death. This event led to the banning of that supplement in the United States.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Steve Bechler was born in Medford, Oregon, on November 18, 1979. His parents were Ernest and Patricia Bechler. He had one brother. Steve started playing baseball when he was seven years old.

As a young player, he joined local teams like the Medford American Little League and Babe Ruth League. He also played in American Legion Baseball. In 1997, his American Legion team finished second in the World Series. Steve had asthma when he was a child. He also had several heat stroke incidents during his high school years.

Steve's Baseball Career

Steve went to South Medford High School in Medford, Oregon. He finished school in 1998. While playing for his school's baseball team, he was named to the All-Oregon third team in his final year.

Before the 1998 Major League Baseball draft, Baseball America magazine called Steve the best high school player from Oregon. The Baltimore Orioles chose him in the third round of the draft. Steve signed with the Orioles and received a $257,000 bonus.

He began his professional career in Minor League Baseball that year. He played for the Gulf Coast Orioles. Later, he played for teams like the Delmarva Shorebirds in 1999 and the Frederick Keys in 2000. In 2001, he was named an All-Star in the Carolina League. He was then moved up to the Rochester Red Wings, a higher-level team.

In 2002, Steve played for the Bowie Baysox and Rochester Red Wings. He had a good record with Bowie. At the end of the minor league season, the Orioles brought Steve up to the major leagues. He played in three games for the Orioles. He pitched almost five innings and recorded three strikeouts. He got a leg injury in his last game.

Personal Life

On October 22, 2002, Steve Bechler married Kiley Mae Nixon. They got married in Central Point, Oregon. The couple had a daughter named Hallie. She was born in April 2003, which was two months after Steve passed away.

Steve's Passing

On February 16, 2003, Steve was at the Orioles' spring training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He collapsed during a training exercise. He was quickly taken to a hospital nearby. He sadly passed away the next morning, at 23 years old. His body temperature had reached a very high 108 degrees Fahrenheit.

Doctors found that Steve was taking a dietary supplement called ephedra. At the time, it was reported he was taking it to lose weight. However, his wife later said he used it for energy. An examination showed that Steve's death was caused by several things. These included a liver condition, mild high blood pressure, his weight, the hot and humid weather, not eating much, and the effects of the ephedra supplement.

At the time of Steve's death, ephedra was banned by many sports groups. These included the International Olympic Committee and the National Football League. But it was not banned in Major League Baseball. After Steve's death, Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Baseball, called for a ban. Many teams then banned ephedra from their clubhouses.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not banned ephedra before. But after Steve's death, they started looking into it again. Steve's parents spoke to the United States Congress. The FDA decided to ban ephedra on December 30 of that year.

Steve was cremated. Six months after he passed, Kiley spread his ashes on the pitcher's mound at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Steve's parents created The Steve Bechler Athletic Scholarship. This scholarship gives $1,000 each year to a graduating baseball or softball player from South Medford High School who plans to play in college.

See also

• List of baseball players who died during their careers